Earl Synstelien

Earl P. Synstelien, of 79, of Willmar, died Tuesday afternoon, June 19, at Rice Care Center in Willmar.

Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Friday, June 22, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar. A private interment will be held at a later date. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Military honors will be provided by the Willmar American Legion.

Earl Phillip Synstelien was born September 20, 1927, in Dalton, Minnesota, the son of Carl and Palma (Dahlager) Synstelien. He grew up and received his education in the Dalton community. In December 1945, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served stateside during World War II. He was discharged in August 1947 with the rank of Staff Sergeant. On October 24, 1948, he married Margaret Hegstad. They lived in Le Sueur, where Earl worked as a meat cutter. On October 31, 1969, he married Margot (Link) Ellingboe. They lived in Willmar, Appleton, Tucson, Arizona and Cottonwood, Arizona, before returning to Willmar in the mid-1990s. He owned and operated Earl's Meat Center in Willmar and later in Appleton. He won numerous state and national meat processing awards and served as a director for the Minnesota Frozen Food Locker Association. He also worked at Walmart Stores in Willmar and Cottonwood, Arizona during his retirement years. He was a member of the American Legion and V.F.W. Posts in Appleton.

He is survived by his wife, Margot of Willmar; a daughter, Mary Kay Synstelien of St. Paul; a stepson, Steven (and Shelia) Ellingboe of Willmar; a stepdaughter, Karin Skarpness (and Ken Grundseth) of Brooten; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Also surviving are a brother, Dennis Synstelien of Fergus Falls; two sisters, Dorothy Kaasa of Elbow Lake and Eunice (and Jerry) Hanson of Waseca; and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Jerome Synstelien and a sister, Jeanette Brown.